Allan Ramsay's House

Category

Library Item

Item no

8227

Title

Allan Ramsay's House

Description

An image of the High Street, Edinburgh including Allan Ramsay's House. Two temperance hotels lie to the right of Allan Ramsay's House. The street is busy with passers-by. A boy can be seen climbing on top of the wellhead.

Artist / maker

Inglis, Alexander Adam

Date

1898

Size

24.9 x 30.1 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Between 1711 and 1725 the poet Allan Ramsay resided, and ran his bookshop in premises on Edinburgh's High Street, opposite the head of Niddry's Wynd, now Niddry Street. Following the success of his pastoral work 'The Gentle Shepherd' Ramsay moved to premises further up the High street in the now demolished Luckenbooths. Two commemorative signs are visible in this image. On the left a sign reads "This house was occupied by Allan Ramsay, Poet and Bookseller, 1711-1725", and on the right the Temperance Hotel's incorporates the following text "Allan Ramsay's House. Here at the Sign of the Mercury, the Author of the Gentle Shepherd lived and laboured as Printer, Author and Publisher." This building is no longer extant.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Landscape > Water > Wells

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Royal Mile

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Sport and leisure > Public accommodation facilities > Hotels

(55°57′0″N, 3°11′13″W)

Read how our collections have inspired people taking part in events, visits and community groups. Use the slider or navigation arrows to see more responses.